Resumes for Election as USAWOA Officer 2010 - USAWOA Online

U. S. Army Warrant Officers Association

USAWOA ONLINE

2010 Nominees for Election to National Office

The following USAWOA members are running for the National Office shown:

For USAWOA National President: CW4 (Ret) Kenneth "Pete" Hill  (see Resume)

For USAWOA National President: CW5 Candis "Candy" Martin (see Resume)

 

For USAWOA National Vice President: CW5 (Ret) James White (see Resume)

For USAWOA National Vice President: CW5 (Ret) Butch Zirpolo (see Resume)

 

For USAWOA National Secretary: CW2 (Ret) Gerry Wentworth (see Resume)

 

For USAWOA European Region Director: CW5 James R. Rathburn (see Resume)

 

For USAWOA Mid-Northern Region Director: CW5 (Ret) Robert Huffman (see Resume)

 

For USAWOA Mid-Southern Region Director: CW4 James Davis (See Resume)

 

For USAWOA Northeastern Region Director: CW4 (Ret) Greg Gouty (see Resume)

 

For USAWOA Southeastern Region Director: CW4(P) Ida TyreeHyche (see Resume)

 

For USAWOA Western Region Director: CW5 (Ret) Russell Brewer (see Resume)

For USAWOA Western Region Director: CW5 (Ret) Vincent Baiocchetti (see Resume)

 

RESUMES

 

 FOR USAWOA NATIONAL PRESIDENT

 

Resume for CW4 (Ret) Kenneth B. N. “Pete” Hill, Candidate for National President

 

    I seek election as the Association President.

    I have been an USAWOA member since 1987, joining shortly after becoming a warrant officer. I became a life member in 2000. I have been active in the Eifel, Fort Bragg and Aberdeen-Edgewood Chapters.

    At the Eifel Chapter, I started as the Chapter Secretary and then became President.  Moving to Ft. Bragg in 1990, I first became the Vice President and subsequently the President.  I have also served as that Chapters Secretary.  I was active in the Ft. Bragg Chapter for 7 years, serving on the picnic, golf tournament, membership, and scholarship committees.  While at Ft. Bragg, I started the monthly awards program and the monthly newsletter, “Chief’s Talk”, aimed at keeping the members informed on Chapter and community activities.  While serving on Ft. Bragg, I was elected to the Southeast Region Directors position.

    I moved to Aberdeen Proving Ground in August of 1999 and was appointed the Deputy Director for the Northeast Region.  I was elected President of the Aberdeen Chapter where I served for two terms.

 While serving as chapter president, I secured the chapter a building, hosted various OPD’s and served on the National Awards Committee and the National Scholarship Committee.

   Upon completion of my Chapter Presidency I ran for and was elected the Director, Northeast Region.  As Director, I made it my number one priority to reach out and touch as many chapters within the region as I could.

   Presently, I am the National Vice President and Secretary for the Aberdeen-Edgewood “Silver” chapter. I have been fortunate to have been able to attend nineteen (19) National Annual Meetings.

   During my military service, particularly that a Warrant Officer, I have developed and practiced

skills of  communicator, mentor, coach, and teacher.  I enjoy public speaking and have been the guest speaker at numerous warrant officer professional education graduations.

    I believe each of these to be essential to any leadership position within

USAWOA, I and I look forward to being able to focus my skills and experience on the position of National President.

 

There are a number of challenges that face the Warrant Officer Corps. I think the three most

significant are:

 

   1.  Professional Education Issues

   2.  Protocol

   3.  Utilization

 

I believe the Association can help the Corps and the Army meet these challenges through

 active participation in the decision making process at all levels

 

I think the three most significant challenges facing the USAWOA, are:

 

   1. Recruiting seniors

   2. Retaining juniors

   3. Publicity

 

I believe the USAWOA leadership can best meet these challenges by the elected officials becoming the face of the association.   We need to get out and spread the word through OPD’s, region and Chapter Visits.   We need to ensure we have a high quality brochure that clearly high lights what the Association does for its members.

 

I ask for your vote as candidate for National President.

 

Kenneth B. N. “Pete” Hill

 

 

 

Resume for CW5 Candis R. Martin, Candidate for National President

 

I seek election as the United States Army Warrant Officers Association President. My assignment to Fort Lee, Virginia places me within the 300 miles radius of the Association Headquarters and allows me to fully participate in meetings and other Association activities. Additionally, there is a high degree of probability that I will remain the in the surrounding area for the next three years, thus allowing me to serve my entire tenure with the USAWOA leadership team.

 

I have been a USAWOA member since 1995, joining shortly after becoming a Warrant Officer. I became a life member in 2002. I was instrumental in the activation of two new USAWOA chapters - the Razorback Chapter in central Arkansas and the Cornhusker Chapter of Nebraska. I have been an active member in three separate Chapters and served in multiple leadership roles, Including President, Vice President, and Chapter Secretary. My 2004 Permanent Change of Station (PCS) to Fort Sam Houston, Texas afforded me the close affiliation with the Lone Star Silver Chapter. I was elected as the Mid Southern Region Director and proudly served from 2004 - 2008. During my Region Director tenure, I was the chief coordinator and Chairman of the 2007 Annual Meeting of Members held in San Antonio, Texas. During a deployment tour in support of the Global War on Terrorism, I and another warrant officer organized a successful ad hoc Warrant Officer Chapter comprised of Warrant Officers serving throughout Kuwait. We held monthly Warrant Officer Professional Development opportunities, normally attended by 40-50 Warrant Officers.

 

During my personal and professional military life, I have developed and practiced communication, teambuilding, and multitasking skills.  I believe each of these to be essential to any successful leadership position within USAWOA. I look forward to focus my skills and experience on the position of National President and represent our Association with the professionalism and dignity due. As a result of my military position, I am afforded the opportunity to speak to large audiences on a regular basis. My professional organization affiliations have offered opportunities for invitations to be keynote speakers at various Veterans activities across the United States.

 

There are a number of challenges that face the Warrant Officer Corps. I believe the three most significant challenges are:

 

   1.  Mentorship

   2.  Protocol

   3.  Education (military and civilian)

 

I believe our Association can help the combined efforts of the Warrant Officer Corps and the Army meet these challenges by way of a closer interface with the Warrant Officer Career College (WOCC) and the Senior Leadership teams of Warrant Officers within the active and reserve components. Although our Association has an established healthy relationship with WOCC and Senior Warrant Officers still in uniform, I side on the idea that there is always room for improvement. Effective communication is critical to the success of any organization. Let us make the best better!

 

I think the three most significant challenges facing the USAWOA are:

 

   1. Membership

   2. Professionalism

   3. Commitment

 

I am confident I can help steer our Association in a manner to best meet these challenges by steering our National leadership team into ideas that will foster new junior Warrant Officer Members while retaining the senior Warrant Officers as members. We are a country at war and more than 25,000 soldiers continue to support our National freedom by providing technical expertise to the fight. As an Association, I submit we need to continue adapting innovative methods to support all Army Warrant Officers - active, reserve, and retirees. While I believe that our Association is functionally sound, I also believe there is always room for improvement. I want to be part of the improvement to our Association. Our Association is a business. We are n the Warrant Officer business. We are the only professional organization that is operated by Warrant Officers for Warrant Officers. While the business of representing Warrant Officers has been successful in the immediate past, there is so much more possible. I am on board with marketing new ideas as to how best support a new generation of Warrant Officers, alongside my peers who have laid the foundation and fundamentals of a passion I hold - our Association. New ideas are critical to the organizational leadership of any team; I want to be part of that team!

 

I ask for your support and your vote as your next National President.

 

Candis R. Martin

 

 

 FOR USAWOA NATIONAL VICE PRESIDENT

 

Resume for CW5 (Ret) James T. "Jim" White, Candidate for National Vice President

 

I seek election as the Association Vice President.  Currently I reside in Lebanon, PA which is within 300 miles of the Association Headquarters enabling me to fully participate in meetings and other Association activities.

 

I became a USAWOA member in 1994, after becoming a Warrant Officer.  I have been a Life Member since 2008.  I was the founder and first President of the Iron City Warrant Officer Chapter, Oakdale, PA.  While serving as Iron City President I was the 99th Regional Support Command Warrant Mentor for all Warrant Officers assigned, Warrant Officer Candidates and prospective Warrant Officers.  I ran for and elected North East Region Director.  My priorities were recruiting and retention of members, active communications with Chapter Presidents.  At the end of my term I ran for and was elected Association Vice President.  Recently I have been active in the Keystone Chapter, Fort Indiantown Gap, PA in supporting the local Ronald McDonald House, Hershey, PA.

 

During my military service, particularly that as a Warrant Officer, I have had the opportunity to work with Warrant Officers from unit level through Department of the Army assignments.  I was selected to represent USAR Warrant Officers as a member of the ADS XXI Study Group.  I have developed and practiced communication skills, advisor, mentor and recruiter.  I believe each of these to be essential to any leadership position within USAWOA.  I look forward to focusing my skills and experience on the position of National Vice President. 

 

There are a number of challenges that face the Warrant Officer Corps.  I think the three most significant are:

 

1.  Military and Civilian Education

2.  Protocol

3.  Utilization

 

I believe the Association can help the Corps and the Army overcome these challenges through active participation in The Military Coalition (TMC), Senior Warrant Officer Advisor Council (SWOAC), and increasing awareness with its members.  I think the three most significant challenges facing the USAWOA are:

 

1.  Recruitment of new members and Senior Warrant Officers

2.  Sustainability of USAWOA for the future.

3.  Communication to all Warrant Officers by other media

 

I believe the USAWOA leadership can best meet these challenges by increasing communication with prospective and current members through utilization of alternative media methods.  We may need to update our "standard operating procedures" by utilizing Face Book, Twitter, etc.  USAWOA needs to be the organization of choice for potential Warrant Officer Candidates and Warrant Officers at all levels for mentoring and career information. 

 

I ask for your vote as candidate for National Vice President.

 

CW5 (Ret) James T. White

 

 

 

Resume for CW5 (Ret) Butch Zirpolo, Candidate for National Vice President

 

I seek the office of National Vice-President, United States Army Warrant Officer Association.

I have been a member of our USAWOA for over 25 years and a lifetime member since 1995.  I have been active in chapters located at Ft Rucker, AL; Ft Stewart, GA and Wurzburg, Germany.  I have listed a few of my accomplishments that I feel qualifies me for this position.

 

While serving at Ft Rucker in the mid 1990’s, I implemented a program in conjunction with USAWOA for the distribution of a USAWOA coffee mug to that every WOC when the class started and an application to join our Association as the class ended.  I talked to each WOC about the importance of their branch association and what it could do for them if they, in return, put some effort into the local chapters. 

 

During a two year program, our membership increased significantly with each graduating class.  With the help of others, I continued the tradition of saving our heritage and displaying our artifacts in an old WW2 building at Ft Rucker.  With the support of the Commandant, WOCC, I was able to secure the 2nd floor of the 2nd WOC Company building to further expand our heritage and expanded our displays.  I was also on the committee that put together the 1993 Annual Meeting of the Members in Dothan, AL in which we inducted our founder, Mr. Don Hess, into the Warrant Officer Hall of Fame.   At Ft Stewart, as the President of the Marne Chapter, we were able to have the first ever Warrant Officer Ball. It was held for two years in a row until the 3rd ID started deploying into the Middle East.  During my time with the Marne Chapter, I was one of the few Aviation Warrant Officers that chose to vote against the popular wearing of the “Eagle Rising” on our uniforms instead going for our Branch insignia’s.  I believe at the time (and still do) that while we should have pride in our Corps, we should also have loyalty to our basic branches as displayed by our Enlisted, Non-Commissioned Officers and our Commissioned Officer Corps.  Prior to the 2003 Annual Meeting of the Members in Gettysburg, PA, I teamed up with members of the Southeast Region, under the leadership of CW3(Ret) Gene Perrino, to design the “Rising Eagle” award and presented our idea to the members and the BOD.  The design and concept was overwhelming approved by the attending members and has now become a reality this year.  The “Rising Eagle” award is our Corp’s award to those Warrant Officers (active or retired) that have distinguished themselves and our Corps. 

 

During my 26 years of service to the Army, I was never one to shy away from the tough challenges that faced me.  I have never forgotten the ranks of which I have come from (Infantry) and fought to give the soldiers that served under me a better quality of life.  I have stood in front of Commanders at all levels and General Officers as their tactical and technical expert and gave them the best sound advice that I could winning more battles for the troops I served.  I have been subject of numerous articles in various magazines and newspapers highlighted by the front page of the USAToday (Sept 6 2001).   As a Senior Warrant Officer, in a 6 year span, I have written and reviewed over 50 packets for young soldiers wanting to join our Corps.

 

The three most Significant challenges to our Warrant Officer Corps is:

1)      Recognition  and utilization

2)      Protocol

3)      Professional Education updates

 

I believe, through sponsorship of meetings and conferences, the USAWOA can assist Senior Warrant Officers to come together to conduct active and meaningful conversations that you cannot have through email.

 

I believe the three hardest challenges that face our USAWOA over the upcoming years are:

1)      Growing our membership with junior Warrant Officers

2)      Identifying and mentoring Warrant Officers for leadership roles within the USAWOA.

3)      Marketing our association as the one association that is the best bang for the buck for our members.

None of these are easy; however, reaching out to members and non-members for their ideas will always give the leadership fresh thoughts.  I believe we have un-tapped resources of mid-level (CW2-CW3’s) that have a million ideas that would be profitable to our association, however, they just have yet to be heard from.

 

I ask for your vote as candidate for National Vice-President.  

 

Gale “Butch” Zirpolo

 

 

 FOR USAWOA NATIONAL SECRETARY

 

Resume for CW2 (Ret) Gerald J. Wentworth, Candidate for National Secretary

I seek election as the Association National Secretary.  I previously served as the Association Secretary from 1998 to 2002 and again in 2007-2009.  In addition, I served as the National Treasurer in 2002-2006.  Prior to my service at the national level in the Washington area I served in the European Region as a chapter president, European Region Secretary and President.  I have also served as a Chapter President in Redstone Arsenal Chapter.  I presently serve on the USAWOA Past President’s Council.

My USAWOA Committee experience includes current service on USAWOA Budget Committee, and previously as past USAWOA Ways and Means Committee Chairman; past USAWOA Fund Raiser Chairman and past AMM Committee.

In my opinion the three most critical challenges facing the WO Corps today are:

1.     Acceptance of Leadership role as officers in changing our cultural identity.

2.     Expansion of professional and civilian education opportunities.

3.     Mentoring of young warrant officers by seniors.

I believe the WO Corps leadership role is to provide professional leaders to set the example for our superiors and subordinates that we welcome the leadership role expected of warrant officers.  The WO Corps leaders must also urge the Army to provide us with the military and civilian educational opportunities to succeed in these expanded responsibilities.  The WO Corps leadership must also take on an expanded role of mentoring our young warrant officers to help them succeed in their transition to greater responsibilities.

In my opinion the three most significant challenges facing the USAWOA are:

1.     Recruiting  and retaining membership of all warrant officer grades in all components.

2.     Improving relations with members at the national, regional and chapter level  to give greater exposure to the Warrant Officer Corps at all levels.

3.     Communicating the role of the USAWOA by utilizing different media including the NEWSLINER, USAWOA Online, professional development seminars, Facebook, and other means.

I believe the Association leadership has already begun working on the recruiting and retention problem with the conversion to a new data base which, when implemented, will greatly improves the data base.  It will also allow the staff to better manage renewals and provide additional support to our members.  Electronic website improvements will also enhance our relations with chapters, regions and members at all levels. A Members only area will be available along with the capability to provide the NEWSLINER on line to members resulting in substantial savings to the Association as we improve our electronic environment.  The challenge of communicating the role of the Association will continue to be a priority and the leadership will explore new methods of communicating to face these challenges.

I would be honored to serve the Association again as your National secretary and I ask for your vote.

Gerald J. Wentworth

 

 

 FOR USAWOA EUROPEAN REGION DIRECTOR

 

Resume for CW5 James R. Rathburn, Candidate for European Region Director

 

I seek election as the Association European Region Director. I arrived in Europe just a year ago, and was immediately identified as the Senior Warrant Officer in theater and asked to speak and energize the Corps. Soon after visiting with the chapter in Europe, I was asked to submit for European Region Director, not feeling I had given enough to the Corps to accept the honorable and prestigious position, I did not act on it.  It was continued calls and emails from multiple senior, longstanding Leaders/Warrants in the USAWOA community; that I hold with the highest regards, that has led to this submission for European Region Director.

 

Due to lack of mentorship as a young warrant and then nomination and selection for back to back special operations, joint assignments and deployments has kept me from joining the USAWOA until last year. With my assignment into Europe and return to conventional Army after a 15 month deployment, I took this opportunity to join the Heidelberg Chapter.  This provided me a platform to visit and provided Warrant Officer Professional Development Briefing through-out the region.  I have provided twelve WOPD in seven locations in Germany and Italy ranging from mentorship, what is expected of a warrant officer, professional education and board preparation. I have also participated and support multiple fund raising and recognition events, most noteworthy our annual Wounded Warrior Day/River Boat Cruise. I have found young and old warrants alike need the mentorship and fellowship the WOA provide. I hope to take my fresh perspective and energy that I have to take the European Region forward.

 

There are a number of challenges that face the Warrant Officer Corps. I think the three most significant are:

 

   1.  Cultural Identity. We are all Soldiers, Officers, and Leaders; however we cannot ever forget we MUST be Technical Experts.

   2.  Communicating the need to be technical experts; we become non-relevant if we lose the one aspect that makes us different than a Regular Officer.

   3.  Recognition and proper utilization of warrant officers. 

 

I believe the Association provides a forum to help the Corps and the Army meet these challenges through effective communication with our members. 

 

I think the three most significant challenges facing the USAWOA, are:

 

   1. Getting current members involved.

   2. Retaining membership.

   3. Publicity (need to be more than Quiet Professionals).

 

I believe the USAWOA leadership can best meet these challenges by the elected officials becoming the face of the association.  With my desire to champion the warrant officer cause, I ask for your vote as the European Region Director.

 

James R. Rathburn

 

 

 FOR USAWOA MID-NORTHERN DIRECTOR

 

Resume for CW5 (Ret) Robert L. Huffman, Candidate for Mid-Northern Region Director

 

I seek election as the Association Mid-Northern Region Director. My recent retirement to Clarksville, TN places me within Mid-Northern Region and allows me to fully participate in meetings and other Association activities. Additionally, my involvement within several other military and civic organizations will aid me in serving the USAWOA leadership.

 

I have been an USAWOA member since 1994, joining shortly after being introduced to the Association in the Hanau Chapter while in Germany.  I have been active in warrant officer activities throughout my career.  I have been able to attend or have briefings conducted on my behalf at the past three National Annual Meetings.   After my retirement from active duty I became the Warrant Officer Network facilitator, in that capacity I deal with 10,760+ warrant officer members on a daily basis.  This professional forum keeps me well informed of all facets of warrant officer issues.  I look forward to being able to focus my skills and experience on the position of Mid-Northern Region Director.

 

There are a number of challenges that face the Warrant Officer Corps. I think the three most significant are:

 

   1.  Cultural Identity as Soldiers, Army Officers, Leaders, Advisors, Mentors and Technical Experts.

   2.  Communicating the changing roles impacting Army Warrant Officers to the Army.

   3.  Ensuring Professional Military Education for Army Warrant Officers is expanded commensurate with the roles the Army expects WOs to fill. 

 

I believe the Association can help the Corps and the Army meet these challenges through effective communication with our members, members of the Army and the educational programs that the association is involved with. 

 

I think the three most significant challenges facing the USAWOA, are:

 

   1. Membership by actively serving warrant officers in all three components.

   2. Overhead costs associated with publications

   3. Active participation by members

 

I believe the USAWOA leadership can best meet these challenges by creating a greater collaborative ability in communications and social networking so as to decrease costs; if cost reductions in publications permit decrease the costs associated with membership dues; and, promotion of enjoyable activities for all warrant officers at meetings. 

 

I ask for your vote as candidate for Mid-Northern Region Director.

 

Robert L. Huffman

 

 

 FOR USAWOA MID-SOUTHERN REGION DIRECTOR

 

Resume for CW4 James E. Davis, Candidate for Re- Election for Mid-Southern Region Director

I am seeking re-election as the Mid-Southern Regional Director.

I am a Life-Time member of the USAWOA. I have been active in the Fort Hood Silver chapter and in many other warrant officer activities nationally and abroad. I formed the first CGs address to the warrant officer conducted at Fort Hood with LTG Rick Lynch who was the commanding General at the time. This was a huge warrant officer professional development seminar that brought in over 150 warrant officers. It also helped the members and other chapters in the mid southern region. The Fort Hood Silver Chapter sponsored the event.

I served as the Vice President of the Fort Hood Silver Chapter and before that as the membership committee chairperson. In 2009 I propelled the region membership to “Overall Best Region for Recruitment and Retention”.

I think the three most significant challenges facing the USAWOA are:

   1. Moving much faster into the technological age with needed information mediums to communicate better across the regions.

   2. Launching national membership campaign drives to reach each member with television spots using the available marketing mediums on each installation.

   3. Last but not least, nurturing the community of warrant officers to meet and exceed the needs at hand in a timely manner.

I believe the USAWOA leadership at all levels can best meet these challenges getting connected with Face book, SKYPE, YOUTUBE and text messaging. This will open the lines of communication for prompt execution of real-time information.

Membership will evolve much faster and create a reason to want to join by having transparency and immediate access.

Lastly, as your Director of the Mid-Southern Region I plan to work very hard for the USAWOA and our community of warrant officers. Each AMM should have hundreds of warrants, vendors, sponsors and contributors that support the silent professionals.

I ask for your vote as Mid-Southern Regional Director.

CW4 James Earl Davis

 

 FOR USAWOA NORTHEASTERN REGION DIRECTOR

 

Resume for CW4 (Ret) Gregory A. Gouty, Candidate for Re-Election as Northeastern Region Director

 

I seek re-election as the Director for the Northeastern Region.

 

     I have been a USAWOA member since 1989. I began my membership at Fort Benning, GA. with the Forever Forward Chapter. I changed my chapter affiliation and joined the Aberdeen-Edgewood Chapter, while being stationed at APG, MD in 1999.  During this time period I was the chapter’s Treasurer and Memorabilia Officer.  In 2003, I was stationed at Fort Bliss, TX.  At that time the Fort Bliss Chapter was in need of a Vice President and no one was interested in taking the position.  So I switched my affiliation, accepted the nomination, and was voted in as Vice President of the Sun City Chapter.

 

     I retired officially from active duty in 2005 and moved to APG MD. I became a member of the Aberdeen-Edgewood Chapter again. I was voted in as Vice President in 2005.  We began our first chapter web site shortly there after and I used that medium to communicate with members.  I sent a monthly synopsis of our chapter meetings to the web master to keep members who couldn’t make it to the meetings informed on the happenings of the chapter and upcoming community events.   

 

     From 2006 to 2008 I was the Chapter President.  During this time period the chapter made many monetary donations to the community i.e. the Chaplains Offering and Tides Fund, VA Hospital, Warrant Officers Heritage and Scholarship Foundations, Wounded Warrior Project to name a few.  Upon completion of my Chapter Presidency, I ran for and was elected Director of the Northeast Region.  As Director, I have had four goals: Support the Warrant Officer Association (sell it in everything we do, our actions and behavior, how we communicate to others and how we present ourselves as Warrant Officers in our daily activities. Market the Association to increase membership).  Support the Warrant Officer Heritage Foundation: this is about keeping the history or the Warrant Officer Corps alive.  Support the Scholarship Foundation: this focuses on providing scholarships to qualified members and family members. And last but not least, support the Wounded Warrior Project.  Last year the Northeast Region won the Outstanding Region Award during the 2009 AMM in Salt Lake City, Utah.

 

There are a number of challenges that face the Warrant Officer Corps. I think the three most significant are:

 

   1.  Utilization

   2.  Education – both military and civilian

   3.  Protocol

 

The Association is a member of The Military Coalition (TMC).  We have made positive changes, affecting the Warrant Officer Corps, through the Coalition and I believe we’ll continue to do so.  The Association is also engaged with the Senior Warrant Officer Advisory Council (SWOAC).  Working with these two organizations, we can positively impact all challenges facing the Warrant Officer Corps. 

 

I think the three most significant challenges facing the USAWOA, are:

 

   1. Marketing the Association to increase membership

   2. Retaining membership

   3. Getting membership involved

 

Marketing and retaining membership is the responsibility of everyone, from National, Regional, and Chapter leadership, to each individual. The Association’s leadership can use different forms of media to market the Association and each individual can sell it in everything they do, their actions and behavior, how they communicate to others and how they present themselves as Warrant Officers in their daily activities. A good method is to ask for participation face to face, eyeball to eyeball.  Participation goes up when this method is duplicated by the hard working few sometimes referred to as “The Dirty Dozen”.

 

I ask for your vote as candidate for Director, Northeastern Region.

 

Gregory A. Gouty

 

 

 FOR USAWOA SOUTHEASTERN REGION DIRECTOR

 

Resume for CW4(P) Ida Tyree Hyche, Candidate for Southeastern Region Director

 

I seek election as Director, Southeastern Region. My recent release from active duty as a mobilized Reserve Officer allows me to fully participate in meetings and other Association activities. I am a Life Member of the USAWOA and have been an active member for over 15 years. I was selected as the National Reserve Officers Association Warrant Officer of the Year in January 2000. I served as Assistant Vice President for Reserve Affairs of the USAWOA for two years (2003-2004). In January 2007, I was mobilized for Operation Iraqi Freedom with assignment in Kuwait. While there, I actively participated in the Kuwait Warrant Officer Association serving as Secretary. I have been active in two Chapters, and, in warrant officer activities in one location where there was no Chapter. At the Vulcan Chapter in Birmingham, AL, I led as President for one term and served in other leadership positions in support of the Chapter. I actively supported the Southeastern Region in hosting the National AMMs in St. Augustine, FL, and the San Juan, PR. Throughout my career as an Army Reserve Warrant Officer, I have planned, organized, and implemented four Warrant Officer Mentorship Conferences, attended by an average of 45 warrant officers, as well as served as a guest presenter for a number of conferences. Perhaps the highlight and most rewarding of my service as a warrant officer has been watching three enlisted soldiers I recruited and mentored become great contributors as Warrant Officer Leaders in their units and join USAWOA as members. I have been able to attend a significant number of National Annual Meetings. During my military service, particularly that as a Warrant Officer, I have developed and practiced skills of communication, critical thinking and analysis, organizational management, research, human resources management, technical writing, problem solving, and presentation of briefings. I believe each of these to be essential to any leadership position within USAWOA. I look forward to being able to focus my skills and experience in the position of Southeastern Region Director.

 

There are a number of challenges that face the Warrant Officer Corps. I think that the thre most significant are:

 

   1. Chapter activations or development.

   2. Assignment and utilization.

   3. Warrant Officer recruitment and Mentorship.

 

I believe that the Association can help the Corps and the Army meet these challenges through awareness, focus groups, utilizing the A-3 theory of critical thinking and publishing vacancies.

 

I think the three most significant challenges facing USAWOA are:

 

   1. Loss of interest in Chapter organizations.

   2. Recruiting and maintaining junior warrants in Chapter organizations.

   3. Conducting root cause analysis in approaching decline of Chapter membership issues.

 

I believe that the USAWOA leadership can best meet these challenges by soliciting feedback, listening, reviewing, and acting.

 

I ask for your vote as a candidate for Southeastern Region Director.

 

Ida Tyree Hyche

 

 

 FOR USAWOA WESTERN REGION DIRECTOR

 

Resume for CW5 (Ret) Russell G. Brewer, Candidate for Re-Election as Western Region Director

 

I am seeking re-election as the Western Regional Director.   

 

I have been an USAWOA member since 1995.  I have been active in the Gold Rush chapter and in many warrant officer activities.  I formed the Gold Rush chapter in 1995 and was president for two (2) terms.

 

I became a life member October 2002. 

 

In November 1995 I and another individual from Alabama National Guard began working on a program to form a Command Chief Warrant Officer position in each state and territory of the Army National Guard.  We spent the next three years and four months documenting their work and submitting it to National Guard Bureau (NGB) to form the CW5 position as a Command Chief Warrant Officer.  (In March of 1999 MG Roger Schultz approved a CW5 Command Chief Warrant Officer position in all states.  The USAR also adopted the position two years later and is in the process of creating similar positions in areas such as the Regiment Command Chief Warrant Officer.)

 

In 1996 I was appointed State Command Chief Warrant Officer for the Headquarters California Military Department.  Part of this assignment was a State Active Duty position.  I retired from the position of State CCWO in 2002.

 

I was awarded the CW4 Albert M. Holcome Memorial Award in 1999 as Warrant Officer of the Year by the United Warrant Officer Association for my efforts in forming the Command Chief Warrant Officer Position.

 

During my military service as a CCWO each year I held a professional development day bringing active Army components to speak on becoming a WO and what the requirements were and are and what was going on in the WO arena.  Attendance for this event averaged 125 Warrant Officers and 35-40 attendees that were interested in becoming WOs.

 

I think the three most significant challenges facing the USAWOA are:

 

    1.  Retention of the membership of the newly appointed W01.  They are not maintaining their membership after the first year of free dues.

    2.  Chapters are not having regular meetings or getting their minutes into HQs in a timely manner.

    3.  Getting and keeping the members involved and interested in their chapter.

 

I believe the USAWOA leadership at chapter level can best meet these challenges by sitting down with each of their W01 and asking them to get involved in their chapter and get on a committee, also ask them what will keep them interested and active in the USAWOA and what changes they think should be made to make this happen and how they would go about making these changes.

 

As the Director of the Western Region I plan on making contact with each W01 in my region by whatever means of communication available to ask them the above questions and get their answers to notify National to implement the needed changes if possible.

 

I ask for your vote as candidate for Western Regional Director.

 

Russell G. Brewer

 

 

 

Resume for CW5 ((Ret) Vincent A. Baiocchetti, Jr., Candidate for Western Region Director

 

I have been a USAWOA member since 1991. I have been active in three chapters.

 

At the Aberdeen Proving Grounds chapter, Aberdeen, Maryland, I served as President.

 

I organized the formation of the Minuteman Chapter, Arlington, Virginia and served as its first President and later another term as President.

 

Organized the formation of the Ft. Lowell-Apache Chapter in 2001, and have served as President (6 One-year terms), Vice President, Secretary, & Treasurer. I am at present serving as President.

 

I have served as Chairman, Annual Golf Tournament which raises scholarship money for the JROTC program supported by the Ft. Lowell-Apache Chapter.  We have just had our 9th Annual Tournament.  Also have encouraged and supported the chapter’s Missing in America Project (MIAP), a program to find and inter a veteran’s cremated remains in a Veteran’s Cemetery.  We also strongly support the local Army JROTC program in Tucson.

 

Nationally I have served as Chairman, Teller Committee for the USAWOA National Elections 2004 AMM.

Chairman, 2005 AMM hosted by the Ft. Lowell-Apache Chapter in Tucson, Arizona.

 

I have attended 15 Annual Meetings of the Members.

 

Challenges facing Warrant Officers

 

  1. Improving the Image and Importance of a Warrant Officer to Commanders.

  2. Warrant Officers must develop an attitude that they are not just a technical expert but an officer too.  Many commanders have met and worked with excellent technical warrant officers that they respect and whose opinions they value, but the warrant officer’s attitude was one of the technical part of the job only.  It said “Don’t bother me with that other “officer” stuff.”  That needs to change.

  3. When going through WOC School, there is an emphasis on “Officer Training” also and you are an Officer and Technical Specialist.Warrant Officers must project a total officer attitude and a desire to be part of the Total Officer, once a commander sees this, his opinion should change. 

 

Challenges facing USAWOA

 

  1. The constant and continuing problem of membership, how do we gather more warrant officers into the organization?

  2. People will join an organization out of a feeling of loyalty or because they will get something from the group.  We must sell the product!  A potential member needs to know, “What do I get out of this?”  If we have the answer to that question, we have a member. 

  3. Army Aviators, who make up almost half of the warrant officers, have not participated as much as I think they should - partly because of location.

  4. Aviators work at the airfield and rarely get over to the “other side.”  As a result they have little of no opportunity to meet and work with non-aviation warrants.  This results in a feeling of “I don’t belong to “that” group.”  We need to work harder to bring about a closer interaction between the aviation and non aviation warrants. 

 

I ask for your vote as candidate for Western Regional Director

 

Vincent A. Baiocchetti, Jr.

 

 

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USAWOA Online 8/26/2010